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What OpenGL / GLUT reference is good for day to day programming as you learn?
Ideally I'm looking for something with lots of C++ sample code to help me learn as I develop OpenGL applications as well as details about the APIs similar to what MSDN provides for .net programming.
If there isn't a one stop shop, then please list the set of references I should use and what the strengths of each one is.
The Red Book is the standard book on OpenGL. Don't be discouraged by the fact that the Amazon review for the 7th Edition has only two stars; this is because people are disappointed that there isn't more on the newest OpenGL features in the book. Previous editions got more stars.
Another good book is the OpenGL SuperBible.
The NeHe Tutorials are one of the most often cited OpenGL tutorials, with sample code not only in C++ but in many other programming languages.
I learned OpenGL using the OpenGL Super Bible. It's still the best reference for it that I can find.
The PyOpenGL Documentation is identical to the OpenGL docs, but far more readable and user-friendly. Have a look.
I also second the OpenGL SuperBible.
I think that by "Glut" you mean "Freeglut".
In this case, you should use this specific reference:
http://jocelyn.frechot.free.fr/freeglut/freeglut_2.6.0-api_0.3.xhtml
It contains latest references for current Freeglut.
This way, you can use special aptitudes of Freeglut (like controlling your own GL loop with glutMainLoopEvent(), which is invaluadble when you're using Freeglut with others libraries.
For all the details about the OpenGL-API there are of course the sdk documentation pages https://www.opengl.org/sdk/docs/ or you could look into the standard specification itself (which I personally avoid most of the time). This most likely only helps if you already have a basic understanding of how to use the GL. The news section on opengl.org also often links to tutorials and books. Just skimmed through it and found this tutorial. As for OpenGL related books I only know the Super Bible, which I think is okay to get started. When learning OpenGL without any computer graphics knowledge a book on that topic can be very helpful too. A classic would be Coumputer Graphics Principal and Practice by James D. Foley, which is still an excellent read but it doesn't focus much on real time rendering. For that Real-Time Rendering by Akenine-Moller is an excellent choice.
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Is there a learning resource that goes over the ins and outs of game programming in C++? I'm looking for something thorough that details the industry standards, tricks, and common approaches rather than just a "build a game in 10 steps" type material - something like the C++ Primer for games. What would a good book or tutorial be?
It depends to a degree on what kind of game you want to make. If you're planning on using a premade engine (like Unity), then the documentation on that would be the best bet.
If you're planning to build a 3D gameengine from scratch, and you want it to work on anything other than just Windows, then you'd need to learn OpenGL. There are some excellent OpenGL tutorials at http://nehe.gamedev.net/ , but for a full treatment you'd do well to read the OpenGL Red Book, the definitive OpenGL reference: http://www.opengl-redbook.com/.
If you're planning to make a 2D game engine, then check out SDL: http://www.libsdl.org/. It's cross-platform and relatively simple to use, and you can also optionally use 3D with it via OpenGL.
I'd advise that the first decision you make (if you haven't already decided) should be: do I want to roll my own game engine, or use a premade one?
The book that I used to learn and would recommend is Introduction to 3D Game Programming with DirectX 11
Pro OGRE 3D Programming (Expert's Voice in Open Source) was what we used at vizible (www.vizible.com)
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I want to learn DirectX in C++ programming. I decided to learn DirectX, so I found some tutorials online, but they all were very complicated and hard to understand. I have spent 3 days on a tutorial, and I have read everything, but I still can't even make an program that initializes DirectX. I think its very hard to learn that way.
Can anyone recommend a good tutorial/book?
The best resource I know of for learning DirectX is Frank Luna's book. It does assume you know C++. If you can get up to the chapter on the rendering pipeline and understand it, you're probably ready for DirectX. As for being hard to remember and complicated, this book does a great job of making sense out of the madness, and besides I don't memorize most of the structs used for initialization.
Try XNA Game Studio, which is somewhat based on DirectX but a lot easier. (You need C# though.)
just so you know you should understand what your reading when it comes to programming tutorials don't memorize. DirectX is basically a middle man between you and the hardware it lets you communicate with the hardware devices you're using like the graphics and video cards without having to know too much about them, but you should still have a good understanding of how they work before you try to create complex 3D Animations and such so if you're just starting off learn how to use the programming language and then start off with a simpler API or library like SDL, or Allegro for example DirectX is long and complicated and you should learn to walk before you run, :D good luck and happy programming
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I find myself in the unique position of having to find a suitable 2D graphics engine (or 3D with easy-to-use support for 2D interfaces) for the creation of a simple, full-screen retail sales tool for my business. I have been considering the use of the SDL library after briefly reviewing its features. It seems fairly easy to grasp, and I have used it before long long ago, but before I begin my project I felt the need to consult with the greater community to make sure I was making the right (read: easiest) decision. One concern I have about the aptitude of SDL is its lack of native support for GUIs.
This is a major concern since my project hinges on the ability to implement some sleek radial menus and other custom widgetry (this is now a word) to ensure easy of use. This software will be running on a kiosk in my store and will serve as a sleek way to browse stock, even that stock which is only available online, and place orders. Am I headed the right way by using SDL or is there a better engine, or perhaps even language, that would be a more perfect fit? Speaking of, I know C++, Python and Perl so an engine or library native to one of those languages would be perfect. I chose SDL because of its hardware independence and C++ nativity. I would consider the use of Java but the system the application will be running on is restricted by corporate and cannot have JRE installed. This would be fairly easy to rectify if Java would truly be the best bet for this kind of application. Thanks in advance for all the help and please feel free to add personal experiences and opinions as much as possible.
Instead of SDL, go for QT. It is more feature rich and you can do the same (and much more) as in SDL.
This answer explains how to create full-screen windows, so that partially answers your question.
Another part of the answer to your question is this : you can create an opengl widget, in which you can do 2d/3d graphics, the same way you would do in an SDL window. For example like this
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I'm interested in learning about rendering and "the whole 2D/3D stuff", especially in OpenGL/C#. There are thousands of search results on Google, so I was wondering if you have any recommendations which to pick, and how to approach the issue - is it possible to become proficient without a teacher? - Are there great books on the topic?
My background: I have been programming in C++/Java/C# for years. I got basic math skills but lack knowledge once it comes to basic university level. The reason for digging into this topic is a company project as well as personal interest.
If you're going to use OpenGL in C#, go for OpenTK which is an amazing C# library that let's you use everything OpenGL, OpenAL and OpenCL have to offer from a typesafe .NET environment. Their website has very good tutorials as well. Once that is done, you can usually choose OpenGL tutorials and translate them to OpenTK syntax without much trouble. NeHe has very good OpenGL tutorials. Good luck!
I recommend the OpenGL Super Bible 5th Edition too. It's got all the new shader stuff (though the code examples are all in C++).
the red book is very good.
http://www.opengl.org/documentation/red_book/
i'd say it is the only book you need to get started
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I am a .net c# programmer but I want to learn .NET C++ also. I am a beginner for c++. Is there any site, book, or Video Tutorials from beginner to expert?
There's no such thing as ".Net c++".
Maybe you mean C++/CLI, which is Microsoft's language specification intended to supersede Managed Extensions for C++ (See Wikipedia). Managed extensions to C++ are its inferior and now defunct ancestor [thanks #dp for your comment].
Bear in mind when you choose your learning material that C++/CLI is not equal to the (standard) C++ programming language; so if you want to learn the former, you should edit the question title and tags.
(Note: This is not to be nitpicky, but to help. I think getting the right idea for each name, and the right name for each concept, is an important factor for consistent learning. And of course it's especially important if you search for information on the web.)
I'd suggest starting with Bruce Eckel's Thinking in C++ for a start.
It's already around for some time (latest version 2003) but it provides a good path from beginner to the more advanced techniques and interiors of C++. It has also some OO foundations in case you like to want to know more about that basics.
(Master download site for the book)
cprogramming.com
cplusplus.com
For a beginner I think a good starting place is C++ Primer. From there I'd recommend Scott Meyers' Effective C++ books.
Certainly this has been asked before, I just can't find the duplicate.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Accelerated-Practical-Programming-Example-Depth/dp/020170353X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235080299&sr=1-4
is great for c++, you'll know the .net from your c#
The biggest tip: in C# you'd do everything with classes, and in C++, you do anything to do with the Win32 API with function calls.
google.com and msdn.microsoft.com are your friends.
Never give up. C++ is much more time-consuming to write, and it's easier to make mistakes.
As you are writing your programs, look for small examples that do small pieces of what you want to achieve, and study them.